This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bestway for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
There are a few things that will always remind of summertime in Washington as a child. The smell of rain on the asphalt after it has been warm for days always gets me. Grandpa setting up his fireworks stand in his front yard as he is getting it ready for the season. And when the water slide gets pulled out and hooked up to the hose for the first time. As these things begin to happen in our family, I know summertime is here. I cannot help but be excited. There is nothing like summertime in Washington state.
This year, we’ve had a warmer than usual Spring. We’ve brought out the kids water table, planted flowers earlier, and already put up the H2OGO! water slide three times! This past weekend we invited about 15 people over for a luncheon and five kids played in our front yard on this fun new water slide.
Parents were delighted to see the kids running and sliding – even my Little Man got the hang of it and started sliding really well. It brought back so many great memories for all of us. And no, I didn’t even try it, much to the disappointment of my children. But, I laughed and felt such joy. It’s amazing how a water slide can do that, isn’t it?
The H2OGO! water slide is great because it has a Speed RampTM which helps kids ride faster and more safely down the 18 foot slide. The Splash Lagoon was the kids goal – they all wanted to slide long enough to reach it. These fun slides are available for purchase on Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com as well as at Toys R Us.
What a fun water slide! The kids could not wait to get their suits on and play in it all afternoon. I now that our house is going to be the “cool house” this summer that all the kids will want play at.
Do your kids love playing outside with water toys in the summer?
I have lots of tips since we always have a summer party. My first is to have NATURAL bug spray. Everybody will appreciate it! And the second is to make sure, as party planner, that you stay hydrated while you rush around.
My tip is to make sure there is shade from the sun and don’t forget sunblock or bug spray when you travel!
Be orgaized and plan ahead to keep kids busy. Always have non-messy food.
I want one of these formyself. Of course I would let my grandchildren play on it. If they were good.
My favorite summer party tips would have to be plan ahead so that everyone can enjoy themselves. I have big buckets fillled with ice for a variety of drinks so that all can help themselves. I always try to get some water toys for the kids to have a good time too.
My sons birthday is in July so we always have a huge summer party! Sliders and hot dogs are always great for parties and easy for food for kids and adults!
summertime party tip… well always have extra sunscreen and bug spray is a great plan 🙂 Also, having lots of water, don’t need dehydrated guests!
My fave is a pool party. Must have lots of cold drinks and a slide would be fun too.
We enjoy Friday night “Happy Hour” bonfires. Everyone brings a snack or drink to share around the bonfire.
Get outside and make sure to enjoy the sun while it lasts (we live in Minnesota)! A big game if sardines is always a crowd pleaser.
My #1 tip is be organized then everything else seems to fall into place! Make snacks easy & refreshing!
Super fun!
Our favorite summertime party go-to is a DIY “water blob”. Keeps the kids cool without the messiness of an actual “water feature”…while the parents chill in the shade 🙂
My favorite summer party time tip is to make sure there are lots of fruits and veggie-based foods to snack on! Lots of times the food focuses on salty (chips, etc), greasy (BBQ meats, burgers, hotdogs) and sweets (cookies, ice cream) that are delicious but often aren’t as refreshing in the heat as a good caprese salad or even just a nice apple or some orange slices!
Get outside and play! Winter is too long in MN, so take advantage of the warm weather and sunshine, and get outside and have fun with the family and dog!
Take steps in food preparation and storage to insure there’s no stomach ailments after the fun.
I have a cheap, large pool I always set up for the little ones in the yard. Love making as much as possible ahead of time. USE YOUR SLOW COOKER to keep things warm! If you make burgers or hotdogs the day before, you can throw them in a slow cooker. If you have a large electric roaster (for turkey’s) you can use that to cook your corn on the cob! Not much else to do after that! ENJOY!!!
One Summertime party tip is to back a great picnic lunch and head to the beach early in the morning with the entire family. The second tip is to bring lots of towels, sunscreen, and a small tent where the little ones can retreat from the sun.
My tips are to be sure to have plenty of ice on hand. And you should have shady spots as well as sunny spots for the guests.
My tip is to have fun things for the kids to do and lots of water and food for all. Usually when we have a big outdoor party, everyone brings a dish which helps out a lot and the kids all like having water balloons, jump ropes, and fun things like this to do together. Sparklers are also great for them with supervision of course
My tip would be to plan ahead of time! No kid likes to wait around for something to do. Finger foods are aways a plus, foods that don’t need plates are a bonus too. Fun party games for kids who like that, but some kids like to just play, so having bubbles or chalk is good too. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, the slide looks SO fun!
Our daughter’s first birthday was last summer and our tip is to have a large canopy with shade as well as plenty of sunscreen for the guests. We had several kiddie pools and sprinklers out for the kids. We also had a beverage station to make sure all were hydrated.
Summertime party tip 1: Provide a tent for shade if your backyard is sunny and hot like ours so that everyone is comfortable. Tip 2: Serve lots of “cool” foods and beverages- fruits, veggies, pasta salads, fruit salads or kabobs, ice pops or ice cream, and smoothies or frozen drinks.
Keep it simple…summer is about low maintenance. Paper plates go a long way to make clean up easier!
Summer parties need lots of cold fresh fruit and in texas, mosquito repellent. We love to incorporate water balloons, water guns, etc. to cool off and keep the kids entertained.
My children would ABSOLUTELY LOVE this! I have a step daughter who is 9, a 6 year old daughter and then a 2 year old son. They LOVE being outside and playing with there friends I even think that the neighbors kidos would love it to. I can see many cookouts with them lol
Keep it simple! The idea is to have fun, not to spend all day fussing over cooking and serving.
I love the water,so swimming and being outdoors in the Summer are always fun.Since I live in Southeast Georgia, where the temperatures get really hot, I always make sure kids have plenty of sunscreen and water to drink. When the temps are really high,we go outdoor s in early morning and late afternoon . I try and find indoor activities for the hottest part if the dayLots of fresh fruits ,jello snacks ,and popcicles in the summer.
When I do outdoor parties I always have goodie bags with organic all natural sunscreen and bug lotion as well as bubbles and stickers for kids.
Another tip is people get hungry working up a sweat I always have enough food for 15 people more than I’m expecting.
my planning tips would be plan in ahead of time..keep it simple with lots of entertaiment for small kids as for older ones.Such a sprinkles or water slide on our yard with plenty to drink,plenty of sunscreen and simple snakcs as fruits and hotdogs.
This summer we are going to bring out the sprinklers, pools, water table, and hula hoops. My oldest son has two close friends in the neighborhood and they all enjoy going over to each other’s houses to play in the backyard. I’m also planning on stocking up early on some water bottles, sunscreen, and popsicles. Helps for the warm days in WA, since Western Washington houses don’t typically come with a/c.
My favorite summer time party tips are to always wear sunscreen because you will get burnt haha! Also, make sure that you have lots of water so that you stay hydrated in the heat!
Plug a fan in outside. It keeps the mosquitoes away.
My son loves playing outside with the neighbor children.
Make sure to keep the hot foods hot while the cold foods cold.
I have individual misting fans available. Summers in the South require some sort of cooling item.
My summer party tip is too always have coolers with ice in them.. comes in handy for drinks..under food trays and bowls and to use on wrists to cool off with!
My favorite party tip is to start freezing ice 2 weeks prior. Saves money instead of buying ice. Also, make drinks and have sharpies on hand to write names on cups.
My two tips are to have plenty of refreshments on hand. When it gets hot, people get thirsty. My other tip is to have an inside alternative. When it rains or gets too hot to bare, it’s nice to offer a place inside to get away from the outside elements for a while.
I love to have popsicles on hand for the kiddos to beat the heat! Also, grown-up popsicles for all the adults too!
My favorite summer time party tip, is throw a water park theme party, make it all about water fun. Have buckets of water balloons, toy squirt guns, even a inflatable pool, and use the H2OGO! as the main event.
Two of my kids have summer birthdays! My tip is to either have it indoors, somewhere with AC – or make sure there’s water activities or lots of shades to keep them cool.
What a cool giveaway! I love summer parties that involve watermelon on sticks. No summer party is complete without a lot of popsicles.
My tip is to only put out a little dip at a time and inside an ice bowl. I also bought some mosquito/bug covers at a yard sale that I love. They fit right over bowls and they are cute.
Looks fun! We love slip n slides.
Summer outdoor party tip: plenty of shade for the adults and lots of water toys and sunscreen for for kids!
My tip is to wear sunblock and bug spray when going outside. Also bring bottles of water to drink to stay hydrated.
I like making sure we have food/drink for both children and adults along with outside games that everyone can enjoy
my favorite tips are to drink plenty of water and avoid outdoor activities during mid day. Early morning play and evening to keep cool.
Everyone loves a great summer party. To me, a great party is all about preparation! Make a checklist of everything you need to buy and what you need to do. Have everything prepared by at least the day before so you can enjoy the party too!
lots of fresh food and healthy snacks.
My favorite tips are to freeze lots of fruit in ice cube trays for fancy drinks and to keep kids with food in their hands!
My tip is to have plenty of ice. You cab not have enough.
When summer comes along you can find us outside enjoying it about 95% of the time!! I love to watch my kids play outside. We do a lot of water activities. Growing up I had a pool in my backyard and I was out their from morning till night! My mom would make me come in for meals of course lol. My kids find ways to incorporate water into their play outside. The most interesting way they have is to put the sprinkler up and swing on the swingset in hopes the sprinkler will get them 🙂
My tips are stay hydrated and don’t forget the sunscreen. Forget the kids!! I want this for me! 🙂
My tip is just try to have fun 🙂 Bring sunscreen and lots of food and you are set! <3 Thanks!
Always try to have a selection of foods that everyone will enjoy and have a shaded area where you can escape from the sun or showers.
My tip is that if you are inviting kids, include some sort of water activity. And for adults, music.
Go outside earlier in the day, and later in the evening. The middle of the day is hottest, and the easiest time to to get over-heated, or a sunburn.
Sunscreen & Water! Be sure to stay hydrated & sun protected.
I try to choose as many make ahead dishes as possible to make the day easier & so I can actually ATTEND the party. 🙂 Also, I put the bowls with the perishable dishes (mayo-based salads, etc) in larger containers filled with ice to keep cool in the summer heat. Thanks!
My favorite summer time party tips is to leave the sprinkler running so the kids can have fun with or without a water slide! I also think that everyone loves a barbeque so you gotta have one and invite the neighbors!
Having lots of drinks… preferably non-caffeinated, so everyone stays cool & hydrated. Also non-messy finger foods so clean up is easy.
I like to have lemon, lime, or orange infused water available. It’s not only refreshing and tastes great, but it also helps keep everyone hydrated.
My summer tip is to provide light foods and nothing to heavy. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for food temperatures if the food is going to be outside in the heat.
have extra beer if you have a lot of people over. and extra food. nothing ruins a party like running out of stuff
Having 3 young kids is not an easy task when it comes to entertaining so I always plan everything in advance when having a party or get together. I prepare the food, beverages & games the night before. It always goes smoothly!!
Try to have extra towels. You always need them. Buy some cheap flip flops. someone always loses a shoe.
My tip. I’m fair skinned and burn easy, so having sunglasses and wear protective hat and clothes and sunscreen.
make sure there are plenty of drinks. it would be bad party etiquette if a party-goer suffers from dehydration.
I like to have a drink station set up so partygoers can get beverages as they need them. I also like to plan to have double the amount of food than you have partygoers ( example: 12 partygoers make enough for 24) that way you have extra in case they bring extra people with them.
Set up badminton, horse shoes, and other outdoor games so everybody can be involved and have fun. Also take lots of pictures!
One of my favorite summer time tips is to put up a volleyball net because everyone loves a good game of volleyball! Also set the mood on the patio with some cute candles!
Summer Fun Tips:
1) I like to buy fun summer toys/things throughout the year at the thrift store. I find amazing deals + squirrel everything away in the garage until the hot weather hits. I’m always thinking about summer because it’s my favorite season! Parties can be expensive so it’s smart to plan ahead + shop off-season.
2) You can never have enough ice, drinks, water play + sunscreen!
I don’t have many parties. When I do, I order pizza and have cake.
I like to prep as much as possible before hand so that I can enjoy the party. I make good use of my crockpots to keep things like baked beans, warm.
Drink plenty of water, have extra of everything surprising how fast you run out,, plan everything in advance and always have towels on hand and rugs or towels at entry ways to help keep floors clean.
I have plenty of water fun at the party between water balloon, sponge relays or tosses, and a pool. Make sure to stock that cooler with plenty of juice and water.
have sunscreen and have lots of finger food because kids are always running around .take lots of pictures for later to look at and smile because that was a good fun day
My party tips are to 1. have a backup plan in case it rains and 2. make sure any new little ones visiting don’t have food allergies before serving the food.
My tips are to be sure everyone has sunscreen on to protect their skin. I also try to have a shaded area where you can get out of the sun for awhile.
We live in an apartment complex, so water balloon fights are out. It’s just too much work to clean up after them. And spending 2 hours filling balloons for 10 minutes of tossing isn’t Mom’s idea of fun. Instead we make a set of sponge bombs at the beginning of every summer and use these foe water fights all summer long. Use a rubber band to tie 2 sponges together, cut the ends to flare like pom-poms. You can get detailed instructions on Pinterest. A large bucket or kiddie pool full of water, and the kids can toss these around all afternoon and clean-up is a snap, just rinse them out and dry in the sun for next time.
Water is the ultimate fun time for kids anything that involves that element makes everything so much more fun!!! We always have water gallons a pool and some type of sprinkler system!! fun time
Shop at the dollar store!!!! We find so many neat things for summer time parties!!!!!!
Get a snowcone maker and setup a table where folks can choose their own flavors. It helps keep you hydrated and cool.
We live in Florida, where summer time parties are fun, but dangerously hot! So, my tip is to have plenty of drinks and cool things, like fruit, popsicles, ice cream, and drinks to keep hydrated. Having water play is always fun, even for the grown ups. Keeping the dress code simple, and having it at a cooler time of day is also great.
I would say always have enough water/beverages on hand for any party in the summer. Sunscreen is also needed.
My tip is to always have cool drinks, sunscreen and bug spray. Memories tend to create themselves but they won’t be happy memories for the dehydrated, sunburned, itchy.
My tips for a great summer are keep it simple, stay outside as much as possible, bbq a lot, and spend lots of time visiting with friends and family! Oh, and enjoy all that seasonal produce goodness (fyi, strawberry crisp is sooo worth a shot at making, my picky kids fight over it!)
Whenever I see water guns on sale, I stock up. I like to keep a bunch available to hand out when I can tell people are getting hot or the conversation gets a lull. It livens things back up in several ways. Also, keep large buckets filled with ice & bottled water & other beverages. I try not to plan too many games to allow people to hang out & be active at their own pace so nobody gets overheated. We always have fun summer parties.
Have plenty of ice! We always seem to run out.
My summertime party tip is to make fruit juice ice cubes and use them to cool down a glass of water. They add a little flavor without too much sugar.
My tip is to have a cooler full of ice and lots of different kinds of soda. Then have several water activities the kids can enjoy. This slide would be perfect and a pool and the sprinklers. You don’t want kids to have to wait too long to have fun.
Great food, lots of decorations and tons of fun games. Love to play charades, it always makes everyone act silly but really enjoy themselves.
My summer time party tip is not too much sun, and do everything to keep the yellow jackets away. Bee stings and sunburn ruin the fun.
Have lots of different drink options, not everybody likes the same things on a hot day. Also, have games for all ages, you never know who will show up for the fun!
We love to have BBQs. The kids like to play in the sprinklers.
My best tips for a great summertime kid party is to make finger foods that the kids can pick up and try to not make it messy. The next tip is to plan a lot of fun games kids get bored fast!
They love it.
keep plenty of sunblock and bug spray handy. Also plenty of water to stay hydrated and don’t forget to have fun!
Our favorite summer time party tips is fun and safe pool toys for the kids. We also love to be out on the water and spend a lot of time at the lake with family friends and pets.
make sure to check the uv index before going outside. Pack plenty of water, sunblock a hay and sunglasses.
How fun this would be!!!!
I make sure not to stay outside too long during the middle of the day since I fry like bacon, and I like using coconut oil for some protection against mosquitoes~
It’s especially true with kids that whatever can go wrong will. Plan ahead carefully to avoid accidents, then always keep an eye on everything.
Make sure you have plenty of cold drinks ready at hand. Ice pops are even better, to help beat the summer the heat!
Enjoy the warm weather as much as possible! Make sure you use sunscreen every couple hours though!